Global efforts to have a malaria-free world led to the setting aside of the 25th of April annually for a global campaign against malaria.
This year’s day tagged “Zero Malaria – Draw the Line Against Malaria” aims at recognizing the successes achieved to emphasize a malaria-free world. This started in 2008 and developed from the Africa Malaria Day, which African countries have observed since 2001.
Data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) showed that, although, malaria infections in Nigeria rose from 52.5 million to 60.9 million between 2015 and 2019, the deaths from malaria decreased from 112,874 to 95,802 within the period. This shows a 16% increase in infections and a 15% decrease in the death rate from Malaria within the five year period.
Nigeria has the highest rates of malaria infection in the world, according to a ranking of 87 countries. The total number of people infected with malaria in Nigeria in 2019 was estimated at 61 million (60,959,012) persons, out of the 229 million (228,867,043) persons infected with malaria all over the world in the same year. This incidence shows that one out of every four people infected with malaria in the world in that year is from Nigeria.
Malaria, a life-threatening disease is contracted through mosquito bites, and poses a significant threat to the lives of Nigerians annually. An estimated 27% of malaria infections in the world were from Nigeria.
In the same year, 408,769 persons died from malaria all over the world. Of this number, 95,802 persons died in Nigeria. Thus, 23% of the deaths from the disease were from Nigeria in 2019.
Efforts to reduce Malaria incidences in the World
In spite of the incidents and deaths, data showed that there had been an improvement in the fight against malaria globally. Total malaria cases recorded globally declined from 259 million in 2010 to 229 million in 2019. This indicates an 11.58% decrease in the 10-year period.
Deaths from malaria infections globally also declined from 736,000 in 2000 to 409,000 in 2019. This is a considerable decrease of 44% over the 10-year period. However, Nigeria recorded a marginal decrease in the number of deaths from 24% in 2018 to 23% in 2019.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the most vulnerable age group to malaria is those under five years. Children under five years of age accounted for 67% of global deaths from malaria.
Twenty-nine countries contributed 95% of the world’s malaria cases. Twenty-seven out of these twenty-nine countries are in Africa. Thus, Africa remains the most affected region in the world.
Nigeria’s case is peculiar because one out of every four persons infected with malaria globally is a Nigerian. WHO reports showed that the entire population of NIgeria is at risk of being infected with malaria.
A review of data from 2010 to 2019 shows that the total percentage of confirmed cases out of those suspected was 100%. That is, everyone suspected to be infected with malaria were found to test positive for the malaria parasite. The methods of confirmation include a microscopic examination and Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT).
There has been a decline in confirmed cases from 84% in 2014 to 79% in 2019.
While Nigeria still has the highest death rate of malaria globally, the country’s death rate from Malaria has slowed down from 26% in 2015 to 23% in 2019.
Funding and aids for tackling the malaria scourge in Nigeria
A sum of $3 billion was committed to controlling and eliminating the disease in 2019. International aid agencies, in affiliation with the WHO contributed 69% of the fund, while 31% was contributed by the government of the affected countries.
Nigeria, over the years, has received financial assistance from various international organizations. These funds come from Global Fund, United States President Malaria Intervention (PMI), USAID, and the amount the government set aside for its National Malaria Program (NMP).
Nigeria received more fundings from Global Funds. Between 2017 and 2019, a total of $372.76 million was confirmed received by the government from Global Funds. Assistance from the United States through the PMI and USAID amounted to $215 million. However, the Nigerian government budgeted N29.35 million through its National Malaria Program (NMP).
Funding for Malaria Control in Nigeria
In addition to funds received, Nigeria also received aid in kind. WHO data showed that 80.08 million Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) were distributed during the three years.
The number of LLINs donated increased gradually from 21.98 million in 2017 to 30.42 million in 2019.
Likewise, access to Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) among the population increased from 49.4% in 2017 to 50.1% in 2018. However, this access level decreased to 48.1% in 2019.
The country, based on the WHO report, does not have any antimalaria drug policy. This saw the population being treated with various available drugs. The number of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) delivered increased from 7.75 million in 2017 to 38.24 million in 2019. In the later year, 55.57% were treated of those administered the ACT treatment course.
Commodity Distribution and Coverage
Malaria, which is caused by a parasite and transmitted by infected mosquitoes, is preventable and curable. Data from WHO shows that five additional countries have been certified malaria-free as of the end of 2019. These countries are China, El Salvador, Iran, Malaysia, and Timor-Leste.
The WHO Global Technical Strategy (GTS) progress has seen a decline in deaths by 44.4% and the number of cases by 3% at the end of 2019. The GTS has the objective of investing in the procurement of commodities and research towards eliminating malaria. It has a financial target of $6.4 billion annually by 2020.
Nigeria, which happens to be the country with the highest cases and deaths, has benefited from this strategy. The country has witnessed the flow of commodities, which has assisted in gradually reducing malaria cases and deaths. The future of a malaria-free Nigeria is possible with continuous alignment with WHO programs, benefiting from the research and implementing the processes appropriately.